AGROPYRON  CANINUM  AND  ITS  NORTH  AMERI¬ 
CAN  ALLIES. 


ARTHUR  STANLEY  PEASE  and  ALBERT  HANFORD  MOORE. 


[Reprinted  from  Rhodora,  Vol.  12,  No.  136,  April,  1910] 


A 


AGROPYRON  CANINUM  AND  ITS  NORTH  AMERICAN 

ALLIES.1 

Arthur  Stanley  Pease  and  Albert  Hanford  Moore. 

The  genus  Agropyron  is,  as  is  well  known,  a  very  puzzling  one. 
Two  recent  revisions  2  have,  in  the  opinion  of  the  writers,  not  entirely 
cleared  up  the  difficulties  presented  by  the  relatives  of  Agropyron 
caninum  (L.)  Beauv.  The  difficulty  of  indicating  the  rank  and  rela¬ 
tionship  of  the  members  of  the  group  by  a  series  of  independent  species, 
as  has  generally  been  attempted,  arises  from  an  extraordinary  amount 
of  intergradation.  Agropyron  caninum  passes,  by  the  loss  of  its  awns, 
to  A.  tenerum  Vasey;  the  latter  to  A.  violaceum  (Hornem.)  Lange,  by 
the  shortening  and  often  thickening  of  the  spikes;  this  again,  on  the 
one  hand  to  A.  violaceum  (Hornem.)  Lange  var.  latiglume  Scribn.  & 
Sm.,  by  the  flattening  out  of  the  keel  and  the  presence  of  pubescence  on 
the  spikelets,  or  to  A.  violaceum  (Hornem.)  Lange  var.  andinum 
Scribn.  &  Sm.,  by  the  presence  of  awns.  Forms  in  which  the  awns 
are  strongly  bent  outward  have  been  described  as  Triticum  caninum 
L.  var.  Gmelini  Ledeb.,  which  may  also  be  regarded  as  Triticum 

1  The  authors  desire  to  express  their  thanks  to  the  staff  of  the  Gray  Herbarium  for 
the  privileges  and  valuable  suggestions  received  from  them. 

2  F.  Lamson  Scribner  and  J.  G.  Smith,  Native  and  Introduced  Species  of  the  Genera 
Hordeum  and  Agropyron.  Studies  of  American  Grasses,  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  Div.  Agrost. 
Bull.  no.  4,  25-23  (Feb.  6,  1897);  C.  V.  Piper,  Agropyron  tenerum  and  its  Allies,  Bull. 
Torr.  Bot.  Club,  xxxii,  542-547  (Oct.  21,  1905). 


62 


Rhodora 


[April 


or  Agropyron  caninum  with  long,  recurved  awns,  as,  indeed,  Ledebour 
considers  it.  Again,  by  a  lengthening  out  of  the  awns,  there  is  an 
imperceptible  transition  from  A.  caninum  to  A.  Richardsoni  (Trin.) 
Schrad.,  as  defined  by  Scribner  and  Smith.1  It  is  also  possible  to 
view  A.  violaceum  (Hornem.)  Lange,  together  with  its  varieties  lati- 
glume  and  andinum,  as  short-spiked  representatives  of  A.  caninum. 
Another  noteworthy  feature  of  the  group  is  a  striking  parallelism,  in 
that  almost  every  variety  has  a  smooth  and  a  hairy  development. 

The  Agropyra  in  question  belong  to  the  non-stoloniferous  group. 
While  this  distinction,  based  on  the  presence  or  absence  of  stolons,  may 
seem  an  artificial  one,  it  is  so  generally  considered  important  in  the 
Gramineae  and  Cyperaceae  that  we  cannot  with  Ascherson  and  Graeb- 
ner  subordinate  A.  violaceum  to  Triticum  repens ,2  nor  can  we  follow 
Beal,3  who  describes  A.  repens  (L.)  Beauv.  var.  tenerum  (Vasey)  Beal.4 

The  earliest  specific  name  in  the  group  is  A.  caninum  (L.)  Beauv., 
which  goes  back  to  the  name  Triticum.  caninum  L.,  of  the  first  edition 
of  the  Species  Plantarum.  Linnaeus  here  discusses  two  species,  T. 
repens  and  T.  caninum.  Of  the  former  he  says,  “radice  repente,”  of 
the  latter,  “calycibus  subulatis  quadrifloris  aristatis.”  The  authors 
of  the  synonyms  of  T.  caninum  cited  by  him  all  indicate  plants 
with  aristae.  The  first  synonym  given  is  Gramen  caninum  non  repens 
elatius  spica  arisiata  Moris.5  The  two  remaining  synonyms  contain 
the  word, “repens,”  and  the  accompanying  descriptions  state  that  the 
plants  are  stoloniferous;  the  species  is  therefore  a  mixture,  as  so 
many  of  the  Linnaean  species  are.  The  first  mentioned  synonym 
and  the  type-description  are  clear,  and  must  hence  be  taken  as  conclu¬ 
sive.  Morison  says  that  the  stem  of  his  plant  is  glabrous,  but  is  not 
explicit  as  to  the  leaves.  Buxbaum  repeats  the  description  given  by 
Morison.  Both  give  figures  —  Buxbaum’s  being  especially  good  — 
each  of  which  plainly  represents  a  glabrous  species  with  aristae  of 
medium  length,  such  as  A.  caninum  has  been  held  to  be.  Linnaeus 
was  not  satisfied  with  his  first  treatment,  so  that  in  the  Flora  Suecica 6 

1  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  Div.  Agrost.  Bull.  no.  4,  29  (Feb.  6,  1897). 

2  T.  repens  L.  B.  T.  biflorum  (Brign.)  A.  &  G.  A.  virescens  (Lange)  A.  &  G.  Syn.  Mittel- 
europ.  Flora,  ii,  1,  654  (Dec.  10,  1901). 

3  Grasses  N.  A.  ii,  637  (1896). 

4  It  is  perhaps  worthy  of  note  that  many  of  the  variations  described  below,  based  upon 

length  of  spikes  and  of  awns  and  presence  of  pubescence  and  glaucousness,  are  paralleled, 
in  greater  or  less  degree,  by  variations  in  A.  repens  (L.)  Beauv. 

6  PI.  Hist.  Univ.  Oxon.  iii,  177,  t.  1,  fig.  2,  sect.  8  (1715);  Buxb.  PI.  minus  cogn.  circ. 
Byzant.  Orient.  Observ.  cent,  iv,  29,  t.  50  (1733). 

3  Ed.  II,  39  (1755). 


1910]  Pease  &  Moore, —  Agropyron  caninum  and  Allies 


63 


he  calls  the  plant  Elymus  caninus,  a  name  taken  up  by  a  number  of 
subsequent  authors.  Under  these  three  names,  Triticum  caninum , 
Elymus  caninus,  and  Agropyron  caninum,  our  plant  is  discussed  in  a 
multitude  of  European  and  American  works.  Nowhere  does  there 
seem  to  be  the  slightest  difference  of  opinion  as  to  its  nature.  The 
name  Triticum  sepium  Lam.1 2  seems  to  be  a  synonym  of  Agropyron 
caninum,  and  has  generally  been  so  regarded.  The  name  Festuca 
nutans  Moench?  also  seems  to  be  properly  included  here.  Moench' 
himself  says  of  his  plant,  “An  Elymus  caninus  Linnaei.” 

Very  closely  related  to  A.  caninum  (L.)  Beauv.  is  A.  tenerum  Vasey. 
It  differs  from  it  in  no  important  character,  except  the  absence  of  awns, 
and  this  is  not  constant,  for  specimens  are  not  rare  which  it  is  difficult 
to  place.  Some  attempt  has  been  made  to  distinguish  eastern  plants 
from  it  on  the  one  hand,  and  from  A.  violaceum  (Hornem.)  Lange  on 
the  other.  Scribner3  unites  them  as  a  species  under  the  name  of 
A.  Novae- Angliae.  An  extremely  painstaking  examination  of  the 
subject  has  led  us  to  agree  with  Hitchcock  4  that 'this  species  cannot 
be.  clearly  separated  from  the  A.  tenerum  of  the  West.  It  may  be  in¬ 
teresting  to  compare  what  Scribner  says:  “In  regard  to  the  Agropy¬ 
ron  for  which  I  have  proposed  the  name  Novae- Angliae,  I  must  think 
it  quite  distinct  from  the  A.  tenerum  of  the  west,  although  it  suggests 
that  species  somewhat  in  habit.  It  looks  more  like  a  caespitose  form 
of  A.  repens.  I  believe  it  has  been  included  under  A.  violaceum  by 
some  authors,  but  it  certainly  is  distinct  from  that  species,  as  repre¬ 
sented  in  our  herbarium,  from  northern  Europe  and  from  the  Rocky 
Mountain  region.”  5 6  “The  plant  described  in  Gray’s  Manual,  ed.  6, 
672,  is  the  western  form  which  is  doubtless  true  Agropyron  violaceum, 
Lange,  while  the  variety  mentioned  ‘with  longer  usually  pale  narrow 
spikes  and  attenuate  often  long-awned  glumes,’  is  the  plant  here  de¬ 
scribed  as  Agropyron  Novae- Angliae.”  6  Thus  it  is  seen  that  Scribner 
himself  calls  attention  to  the  affinity  of  the  eastern  plant.  Through 
it,  A.  tenerum  Vasey  passes  readily  to  A.  violaceum  (Hornem.)  Lange. 

Scribner  and  Smith  7  have  described  Agropyron  violaceum  (Hornem.) 

1  Flore  Frang.  iii,  629  (1778);  Encycl.  Meth.  (Bot.)  ii,  563  (1786). 

2  Meth.  PI.  Hort.  Bot.  Agr.  Marburg,  191  (1794). 

3  In  Brainerd,  Jones,  and  Eggleston,  FI.  Ver.  103  (1900). 

4  Gray,  Man.  ed.  VII,  167  (1908). 

5  In  Brainerd,  Jones,  and  Eggleston,  Flora  Vt.  9  (1900). 

6  L.  c.  103. 

7  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  Div.  Agrost.  Bull.  no.  4,  30  (Feb.  6,  1897). 


64 


Rhodora 


[April 


Lange  var.  latiglume,  the  salient  feature  of  which  is  wider  glumes 
covered  with  a  fine  pubescence.  In  other  members  of  our  group 
the  glumes  are  merely  minutely  ciliate  on  the  margins.  In  most  of  the 
group  it  is  difficult  to  measure  the  glumes,  because  of  their  shape,  for 
they  are  folded  strongly  so  as  to  have  a  prominent  keel.  In  A.  viola¬ 
ceum  var.  latiglume  the  keel  is  much  flattened  or  almost  wanting; 
that  is,  the  glumes  are,  as  it  were,  unfolded,  thus  giving  the  appear¬ 
ance  of  width.  This  fact  is  certainly  more  striking  than  any  actu¬ 
ally  greater  breadth,  even  if  that  exists.  The  variety  was  described 
from  the  West,  but  all  of  the  Arctic  material  in  the  Gray  Herbarium, 
except  one  violet-spiked  specimen  of  A.  violaceum,  answers  to  the 
description  of  it.  This  suggests  the  bare  possibility  that  A.  violaceum 
(Hornem.)  Lange  var.  virescens  Lange  may  belong  here. 

The  intimate  relationship  between  A.  violaceum  (Hornem.)  Lange 
and  A.  caninum  (L.)  Beauv.,  referred  to  above,  is  brought  out  by 
Beal,1  who  says,  “Perhaps  this  [A.  violaceum ]  is  a  northern  or  alpine 
form  of  A.  caninum  R.  &  S.,  from  which  it  differs  in  having  a  culm 
30-50  cm.  high,  leaves  3-4  in  number,2  blades  proportionately  shorter, 
spikes  3-8-12  cm.  long,  narrow,  strict,  more  or  less  tinged  with  violet. 
Spikelets  3-5  flowered;  floral  glume  wider  than  in  A.  caninum,  not 
so  firm,  nerves  more  prominent,  awn  short  or  none;  palea  shorter 
than  the  floral  glume,  pectinate-ciliate.”  Even  these  differences  do 
not  all  hold.  A  violet  tinge  is  occasionally  found  in  A.  caninum, 
while  entire  absence  of  violet  color  is  common  in  A.  violaceum’, 
the  palea-  and  glume-characters  are  not  good.  Triticum  violaceum 
Hornem.  3  is  the  first  published  name,  but  the  first  varietal  appella¬ 
tion,  which  we  believe  expresses  the  rank  best  suited  to  this  plant,  is 
Triticum  biflorum  Brign.  /?  Hornemanni  Koch.4 

Plants  with  greener,  more  stocky  spikes  have  been  distinguished  as 
Agropyrum  violaceum  (Hornem.)  Lange  ft.  virescens  Lange.5  This 
tendency  is  the  common  one  in  the  White  Mountains,  while  the  other 
is  known  from  the  Arctic  Region  and  the  West.  However,  the  White 
Mountain  development  is  not  unknown  in  the  West,  where  one  also 
finds  the  slender-spiked,  narrow-leaved  plant  of  Greenland,  probably 

1  Grasses  N.  A.  ii,  639  (1896). 

2  This  character  we  find  to  be  inconstant. 

3  Flora  Dan.  xii,  t.  2044  (1834). 

4  Syn.  Flor.  Germ.  Helv.  ed.  II,  ii,  953  (1844).  Koch  bases  his  variety  directly  upon 
Triticum  violaceum  Hornem. 

5  Consp.  Flor.  Groenf.  155  (1880). 


19101  Pease  &  Moore, —  Agropyron  caninum  and  Allies 


65 


representing  the  type,1  together  with  a  thick-spiked  plant  having  a 
strong  violet  color.  Every  variation  in  leaves  from  revolute  to  flat 
and  broadish  is  to  be  noted.  Not  one  of  the  members  of  the  group 
under  discussion  fails  to  show  an  indefinite  violet  tinge  at  times.  The 
color  shades  off  into  the  colorless  or  green  condition  too  imperceptibly 
to  give  rise  even  to  color  forms.  The  tendency  is  a  very  common  one 
throughout  the  Grasses,  so  that  it  does  not  seem  noteworthy. 

Following  Piper,  1.  c.,  Hitchcock,  in  the  seventh  edition  of  Gray’s 
Manual,2  uses  for  Agropyron  violaceum  (Hornem.)  Lange  the  name 
A.  biflorum  (Brign.)  R.  &  S.  The  original  publication  of  Tritieum 
biflorum  by  Brignoli  was  not  accessible  to  us;  but  fortunately  it  is 
copied  by  Roemer  and  Schultes.3  The  conspicuous  point  in  the  origi¬ 
nal  description,  reiterated  by  them,  is  that  the  glumes  are  3-nerved. 
The  glumes  of  our  American  plants  are  5-7-nerved.  This  distinction 
has  been  held  by  monographers  of  the  genus  to  be  important,  yet, 
although  Hitchcock  credits  our  plant  with  having  5-7  nerves  he  calls 
it  A.  biflorum.  Another,  not  insignificant  objection  to  accepting  the 
name  is  the  peculiar  range.  Roemer  and  Schultes  note  it  from,  “Monte 
Matajur,4’’  and  while  later  European  authors  extend  this  range  a  little, 
all  that  we  have  found  agree  that  it  is  a  quite  local  plant.5  European 
authors,  who  should  be  more  familiar  with  A.  biflorum  than  the  meagre 
representation  of  rare  European  plants  in  American  herbaria  permits 
us  to  be,  do  not  generally  hold  the  view7  that  A.  biflorum  and  A.  vio- 
laceum  are  identical,  but  only  closely  related.  Ascherson  and  Graebner, 
for  example,  treat  the  latter  as  two  varieties  of  a  subspecies,  biflorum, 
of  Tritieum  repens  L.,  A.  virescens  and  B.  Hornemanni.  Nyman6 
believes  that  Tritieum  biflorum  is  distinct,  and  says,  “gramen  rarius.” 
Ascherson  and  Graebner  are  of  the  opinion  that  Nyman’s  plant  is 
virescens.  The  following  quotation  from  their  Synopsis  is  indicative 
of  the  uncertainty  which  surrounds  the  name  T.  biflorum :  “Eine  sehr 
kritische  Pflanze,  die  trotz  ihrer  fast  stehts  sehr  eigenartige  Tracht 
kaum  durch  scharfe  Merkmale  von  T.  eu-repens  getrennt  ist.”  These 
authors  also  note  the  three  nerves,  “Hiillspelzen  lanzettlich  (wenigstens 

1  At  least,  there  is  a  specimen  of  this  phase  in  the  Gray  Herbarium  which  was  collected 
in  Greenland  by  J.  Vahl,  the  collector  of  the  type.  It  may  well  be  the  material  of  the 
type  collection  itself. 

2  Ed.  VII,  166  (1908). 

s  L.—  R.  &  S.  Syst.  Veg.  ii,  756  (1817). 

4  Near  Gorz. 

5  The  reference  of  it  to  Syria  by  the  Index  Kewensis  is  probably  a  mistake. 

6  Consp.  Flor.  Europ.  841-842. 


66 


R  hod  ora 


[April 


die  untere)  3-nervig.”  In  view  of  all  this,  it  does  not  appear  justi¬ 
fiable  to  consider  the  name  T.  biflorum  synonymous,  by  the  Vienna 
Rules,  with  A.  molaceum.  Furthermore  it  is  not  necessary  to  do  so, 
because,  for  us,  the  first  name  which  can  be  taken  up  in  the  varietal 
rank,  is,  as  we  have  shown,  Triticum  biflorum  Brign.  [3.  Hornemanni 
Koch.  Transitional  material  to  Agropiyron  tenerum  Vasey  is  especially 
common  from  the  Gaspe  Peninsula.  In  fact,  if  this  region  alone  were 
taken  into  account,  one  would  be  inclined  not  to  make  any  distinction 
at  all. 

A  co-type  of  A.  brevifolium  Scribn.1  needs  a  word  of  comment.  It 
differs  from  the  ordinary  forms  of  A.  molaceum  only  in  having  many 
sterile  shoots;  the  length  of  the  leaves  is  unimportant.  The  larger  / 
number  of  shoots  hardly  constitutes  a  character,  so  that  the  name  A. 
brevifolium  may  well  be  relegated  to  synonymy. 

The  next  variety  which  needs  to  be  discussed  is  the  one  described  in 
correct  form  under  the  genus  Triticum  as  T.  caninum  L.  var.  Gmelini 
Ledeb.2  Oddly  enough,  the  correct  combination  has  been  actually 
used,  though  not  technically  made,  for  in  the  Bulletin  of  the  Torrey 
Botanical  Club,3  Vasey  speaks  of  Agropyrum  caninum  (L.)  Beauv.  var. 
Gmelini  Ledeb.,  a  combination  not  made  by  Ledebour,  and  so  far  as 
we  are  aware,  not  formally  published  by  anyone.  According  to  the 
Vienna  Code,  a  combination  is  not  considered  made  unless  reference 
is  given  to  a  previously  published  name,  which  in  this  case  was  not 
done. 

The  three  last  mentioned  plants  may  best  be  treated  as  parallel  varie¬ 
ties.  There  exists  a  pubescent  form  of  Triticum  caninum  var.  Gmelini. 
The  type  of  Agropyron  Gmelini  (Ledeb.)  Scribn.  &  Sm.  var.  Pringlei 
Scribn.  &  Sm.  in  the  Gray  Herbarium,  as  well  as  most  of  the  speci¬ 
mens  so  labelled,  is  evidently  this  form.  No  other  constant  difference 
from  A.  Gmelini  has  been  detected.  A  specimen  in  the  Gray  Her¬ 
barium  labelled  A.  Scribneri  Vasey,  which  also  does  not  differ  essen¬ 
tially  from  our  plant,  is  noted,  on  the  sheet,  by  the  word,  “Type.” 
In  fact,  the  affinity  is  recognized  by  Vasey,  who  says  of  it,  “It  is  per¬ 
haps  the  A.  caninum,  var.  Gmelini,  Ld.”  As  there  may  be  some 
doubt  about  the  identity  of  A.  Scribneri,  since  the  specimen  labelled 

1  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  Div.  Agrost.  Bull.  no.  11,  55  (July  20,  1898). 

2  Flora  Alt.  i,  118  (1829);  figured,  Ic.  PI.  Nov.  imperf.  cogn.  Flor.  Ross,  iii,  16,  t. 
248  (1831). 

3  x,  128  (Dec.  1883). 


1910]  Pease  &  Moore, —  Agropyron  caninum  and  Allies  67 


‘type’  is  not  technically  such,  Vasey  not  having  cited  any  type,  it  seems 
wisest  to  derive  the  name  of  the  form  from  A.  Gmelini  var.  Pringlei, 
the  identity  of  which  cannot  be  questioned. 

The  last  plant  to  be  considered  is  that  called  by  Scribner  and  Smith 
Agropyron  Richardsoni  (Trin.)  Schrad.  The  evidence  for  identifying 
this  name  with  the  plant  in  question  is  extremely  weak.  The  original 
description  of  Triticum  Richardsoni  Schrad.1  reads  as  follows:  “Agro- 
pyr.  Richardsonii  Ind.  sem.  H.  Berol.  1832. —  America  borealis  arctica 
?  A-  —  A  Trit.  repente  vulgari  differt  foliis  firmioribus  serius  involutis 
spica  graciliori;  spiculis  minus  distichis  paucifloris,  floribus  longius; 
aristatis.”  It  is  true  that  the  use  of  the  expression,  “Trit.  repente,” 
may  not  be  accurate,  but  is  there  any  reason  for  assuming  this  ?  Surely, 
“longius  aristatis,”  is  a  mild  statement  for  the  longest  awns  in  our 
group.  Besides  the  published  evidence,  there  is  some  supposed  further 
documentary  evidence.  Scribner  and  Smith  2  say,  “  Triticum  richard¬ 
soni  Trin.3  in  Reliq.  Scrad.  [sic.],  Linn.,  12:  467  (1838),  according  to 
a  specimen  from  the  St.  Petersburg  Academy  in  the  Gray  Herbarium.” 
The  only  specimen  of  this  species  from  St.  Petersburg  in  the  Gray 
Herbarium  is  labeled:  “Ex  herbario  horti  Petropolitani,  ‘Triticum 
Richardsoni’  =  T.  violaceum,  Hornem.”  The  expression,  “=  T. 
violaceum,  Hornem.,”  is  added  in  the  handwriting  of  Dr.  Gray,  and 
the  quotation  marks  seem  to  be  in  an  ink  of  the  same  date,  leaving 
“Triticum  Richardsoni,”  carelessly  written  in  an  unknown  hand,  as 
the  only  original  label.  Under  “A.  richardsoni,” 4  Scribner  and 
Smith  cite  as  seen  in  the  Gray  Herbarium:  “British  Columbia:  Rich¬ 
ardson,  type  collection.”  A  careful  search  has  revealed  no  such 
specimen.  Probably  “  Gray  Herbarium”  is  an  error. 

There  is,  however,  a  good  name  for  the  plant  under  discussion, 
namely,  Agropyrum  caninum  (L.)  Beauv.  var.  unilaterale  (Cassidy) 
Vasey;5  A.  unilaterale  Cassidy.6  Cassidy’s  description  follows: 
“Flowering  glume  finely  scabrous,  flattened  and  obscurely  nerved 
below;  apex  rougher,  acutely  two-toothed,  the  mid-nerve  terminating 
in  a  rough,  straight  awn  2  inches  long.7  Banks  of  streams  7,000  to 

1  Linnaea,  xii,  467  (1838). 

2  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  Div.  Agrost.  Bull.  no.  4,  29  (Feb.  6,  1897). 

3  There  is  no  evidence  that  Trinius  is  the  authority. 

4  The  original  authority  for  A.  Richardsoni  is  Hort.  Berol.  It  appeared  as  a  nomen 
nudum  in  the  Ind.  Sem.  Hort.  Bot.  Berol.  1831  Collect  (1832),  a  copy  of  which 
A.  H.  Moore  was  permitted  to  see  at  the  Berlin  Botanical  Museum. 

5  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb,  i,  279  (Oct.  31,  1893). 

6  Colo.  State  Agr.  Coll.  Exper.  Sta.  Bull.  no.  12,  63  (July,  1890). 

7  We  wish  to  call  attention  especially  to  his  measurement  of  the  awns,  which  is  even 
rather  extreme. 


68 


Rhodora 


[April 


8,000  ft.  [Colo.].”  This  description  leaves  little  doubt  as  to  the  mean¬ 
ing  of  the  name,  and,  indeed,  Scribner  and  Smith  consider  it  a  synonym 
of  A.  Richardsoni.  As  the  first  varietal  name  Vasey’s  combination 
is  the  correct  one.  The  following  quotations  will  throw  some  light 
on  the  nature  of  A.  caninum  (L.)  Beauv.  var.  unilaterale  (Cassidy) 
Vasey,  and  also  upon  its  relationship.  Ramaley1  says:  “From  this 
description  [Vasey’s]  and  from  an  examination  of  specimens  distrib¬ 
uted  by  the  Department  of  Agriculture  it  appears  that  this  plant  is 
very  near  to  A.  violaceum  (Hornem.)  Lange,  forma  caninoides 2 
described  below;  it  is  probable  that  through  these  formae  3  the  two 
species  4  are  related.”  Ramaley,  having  apparently  read  only  Vasey’s 
brief  description,5  assumes  that  A.  caninum  var.  unilaterale  differs 
only  very  slightly  from  the  type. 

Scribner  and  Smith,  under  A.  caninum  (L.)  Beauv.,  write:  “Forms 
of  this,  with  unilateral  spikes,  have  been  referred  to  A.  richardsoni , 
which  has  awns  three  or  four  times  as  long  as  those  of  caninum,  and 
the  flowering  glume  bidentate  below  the  origin  of  the  awn.  Slender 
forms  have  been  referred  by  collectors  to  A.  tenerum  Vasey,  and  forms 
with  short  compact  spikes  and  short  awns  to  A.  violaceum  Vasey.” 

Scribner  and  Smith  6  describe  Agropyron  tenerum  Vasey  var.  longi- 
folium.  We  have  seen  no  specimens  of  this,  and  are  therefore  unfor¬ 
tunately  unable  to  discuss  it. 

We  may  now  proceed  to  the  taxonomic  treatment  and  diagnoses. 
We  desire  to  call  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  measurements  in  all  cases 
represent  the  usual  or  average  limits,  and  that  measurements  may  be 
observed  which  lie  above  or  below  them.  For  example,  if  the  awns 
are  said  to  be  1-3  cm.  long,  some  awns  may  be  found  0.8  or  4  cm.  long, 
but  this  would  not  apply  to  more  than  a  small  proportion  of  the  awns 
in  the  given  spike.  Approximate  averages  are  given  whenever  possible, 
to  show  the  proportional  size  of  the  spikes,  which  is  an  important 
character. 

1  Geol.  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn. —  Minn.  Bot.  Studies,  Bull.  no.  9,  3,  107  (June  9,  1894). 

2  We  believe  this  form  to  be  inseparable  from  A.  caninum.  It  does  not  seem  best  to 
retain  names  for  intermediate  forms  of  this  sort,  where  no  sharp  line  exists,  for  there  is 
no  more  reason  for  using  one  name  than  several. 

3  A.  violaceum  (Hornem.)  Lange  f.  caninoides  Ramaley  and  A.  violaceum  (Hornem.) 
Lange  f.  violacescens  Ramaley.  The  latter  is  Ramaley ’s  name  for  A.  caninum  var. 
unilaterale. 

4  Ramaley  means  here  A.  caninum  and  A.  violaceum. 

5  Vasey  does  not  mention  the  awns. 

6  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  Div.  Agrost.  Bull.  no.  4,  30  (Feb.  6,  1897). 


1910]  Pease  &  Moore, —  Agropyron  caninum  and  Allies 


69 


KEY  TO  THE  VARIETIES  AND  FORMS.1 

a.  Awns  mostly  under  1.5  cm.  long,  or  none.  b. 

b.  Awns  mostly  7-15  mm.  long.  c. 

c.  Plants  glabrous . 1  .A.  caninum 

c.  Some  or  all  of  the  leaves  or  sheaths  hairy,  d. 

d.  Plants  not  glaucous . 2.  A.  caninum  f.  pubescens 

d.  Plants  glaucous . 3.  A.  caninum  f.  glaucum 

b.  Awns  none,  or  not  exceeding  6  mm.  e. 

e.  Spikes  generally  long  and  slender  (average  length  about  12-14  cm.): 
usually  lowland  plants,  f. 

f.  Plants  glabrous . 4.  A.  caninum  var.  tenerum. 

f.  Leaves,  sheaths,  or  both  provided  with  hairs,  g. 

g.  Plants  not  glaucous  .  5.  A.  caninum  var.  tenerum  f.  ciliatum. 

g.  Leaves  and  sheaths  glaucous. 

6.  A.  caninum  var.  tenerum  f.  Fernaldii 

e.  Spikes  generally  short  and  thick  (average  length  about  7-8  cm.): 
usually  alpine  or  far  northern,  h. 

h.  Glumes  with  a  fine  pubescence.  7.  A.  caninum  var.  latiglume. 

h.  Glumes  minutely  ciliate  on  the  margins,  not  pubescent,  i. 

i.  Leaves  glabrous  ....  8.  A.  caninum  var.  Hornemanni. 

i.  Leaves  pilose  above. 

9.  A.  caninum  var.  Hornemanni  f.  pilosifolium. 
a.  Awns  mostly  1.5  cm.  long  or  over.  j. 

j.  Spikes  short  and  thick,  average  length  (exclusive  of  terminal  awns) 
5-7  cm.  k. 

k.  Awns  ascending,  not  strongly  recurved. 

10.  A.  caninum  var.  andinum. 

k.  Awns  strongly  recurved  (often  bent  out  nearly  at  right  angles).  1. 

1.  Plants  glabrous . 11.  A.  caninum  var.  Gmelini. 

1.  Leaves  (rarely  sheaths  also)  provided  with  hairs. 

12.  A.  caninum  var.  Gmelini  f.  Pringlei. 

j.  Spikes  (inclusive  of  awns  2)  7.2-20  cm.  long.  m. 

m.  Plants  glabrous . 13.  A.  caninum  var.  unilaterale. 

m.  Sheaths  and  often  leaves  provided  with  hairs. 

14.  A.  caninum  var.  unilaterale  f.  ciliatum. 

1.  Agropyron  caninum  (L.)  Beauv.  Spikes  long  and  slender, 
7.2-21.6  cm.  long  (exclusive  of  the  terminal  awns),  3-10  mm.  wide 
(exclusive  of  the  awns);  awns  5-25  mm.  (mostly  7-15  mm.)  long,3 
generally  spreading,  not  rarely  ascending  (seldom  giving  the  spike  a 
unilateral  appearance). —  Agrost.  102,  146  (1812);  L. —  R.  &  S. 
Syst.  Veg.  ii,  756  (1817);  Reichenb.  Ic.  Flor.  Germ.  Helv.  i,  29,  t.  19, 
fig.  1381  (1850)  ;4  Scribn.  &  Sm.  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  Div.  Agrost.  Bull, 
no.  4,  29  (Feb.  6,  1897). 

Gramen  caninum  non  repens  elatius  spica  aristata  Moris.  PI.  Hist. 


1  Any  key  to  this  group  would  fit  only  the  more  typical  cases,  because  of  the  intergrada¬ 
tion. 

2  The  awns  are  included  because  their  ascending  or  approximate  character  makes  them 
an  integral  part  of  the  spike. 

3  If  the  low  measurements  (5-6  mm.)  hold  throughout  a  spike,  the  specimen  will  be 
better  treated  as  no.  4. 

4  Color  of  the  awns  purplish. 


70 


R hod ora 


[April 


Univ.  Oxon.  iii,  177,  t.  1,  fig.  2,  sect.  8  (1715);  Buxb.  PL  minus 
cogn.  eirc.  Byzant.  Orient.  Observ.  cent,  iv,  29,  t.  50  (1733). 

Triticum  caninum  L.  Sp.  PL  ed.  I,  86  (1753);  Zinn,  Cat.  PL  Hort. 
Acad.  Agr.  Gott.  67  (1757);  Sm.  Flora  Brit,  i,  159  (1800);  Host, 
Ic.  Descript.  Gram.  Austr.  ii,  20,  t.  25  (1802);  Engl.  Bot.  t.  1372 
(1805);  Flora  Dan.  ix,  1,  t.  1447  (1818);  Sm.  Engl.  Flora,  i,  184 
(1828),  etc. 

Elymus  caninus  L.  Flora  Suec.  ed.  II,  39  (1755),  Syst.  Nat.  ii, 
879  (1760),  Sp.  PL  ed.  II,  i,  124  (1762);  L. —  Willd.  Sp.  PL  i,  469 
(1798);  Sehkuhr,  Bot.  Handb.  i,  56  (1791),  etc. 

Triticum  radice  fibrosa ,  foliis  hirsutis,  locustis  quinquefloris ,  aris- 
tatis  Haller,1  Hist.  Stirp.  Indigen.  Helv.  212  (1768). 

T.  sepium  Lam.  Flore  Frany.  iii,  629  (1778),  Encycl.  Meth.  (Bot.) 
ii,  563  (1786);  Lam.  &  DC.  Flore  Fran<y  iii,  83  (1805). 

Festuca  nutans  Moencb  ?  Metb.  PL  Hort.  Bot.  Agr.  Marburg, 
191  (1794). 

Braconotia  elymoides  Godr.  Flore  Lorr.  ed.  I,  iii,  193  (1844). 

Braconnotia  elymoides  Godr.  Flore  Lorr.  ed.  II,  ii,  454  (1857). 

Agropyron  violaceum  (Hornem.)  Lange  f.  caninoides  Ramaley, 
Geol.  Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn. —  Minn.  Bot.  Studies,  Bull.  no.  9,  3, 
108  (June  9,  1894). 

A.  caninoides  (Ramaley  2)  Beal,  Grasses  N.  A.  ii,  640  (1896). 

Triticum  caninum  L.  var.  typicum  A.  &.  G.  Syn.  Mitteleurop. 
Flora,  ii,  1,  642  (Dec.  10,  1901);  Schinz  &  Keller,  Flora  der  Schweiz, 
ed.  II,  ii,  30  (1905). 

Agriopyrum  caninum  (L.)  Schinz  &  Keller,  Flora  der  Schweiz,  ed. 
II,  ii,  30  (1905),  attributed  to  Beauv. 

Specimens  examined:  Labrador?  {Prof .Brunet):  Quebec,  Between 
Balde  and  the  Baie  des  Chaleurs,  Bonaventure  River,  Bonaventure 
Co.,  August  5,  6,  &  8,  1904  {J.  F.  Collins ,  M.  L.  Fernald ,  and  A.  S. 
Pease)’,  River  Ste.  Anne  des  Monts,  Gaspe  Co.,  August  16,  1906 
{M .  L.  Fernald  and  J .  F.  Collins ,  nos.  170  and  170a) ;  Shore  of  Bound¬ 
ary  Lake,  Kamouraska  Co.,  July  31,  1878  (C.  G.  Pringle)’,  Vicinity 
of  Cap  a  LAigle,  August  19,  1905  {J.  Macoun,  Herb.  Geol.  Surv.  Can. 
no.  68982):  New  Brunswick,  {J.  Fowler ):  Maine,  Fort  Fairfield, 
July  5,  1893  ( M .  L.  Fernald,  no.  196);  Along  St.  John  River,  St. 
Francis,  1881  ( K .  Furbish,  no.  13);  Houlton,  Aug.  26,  1897  {M.  L. 
Fernald) ;  Hartford,  July  18,  1901  {J.  C.  Purlin,  no.  1427) :  Vermont, 
North  Pownal,  August  1,  1898  (J.  R.  Churchill ):  Massachusetts, 
Concord,  July  6,  1888  (C.  IF.  Swan  and  C.  IF.  Jenks ):  Connecticut, 
Somers,  July  20,  1904  (0.  H.  Bissell ):  Pennsylvania,  Pocono  Moun¬ 
tain,  August  2,  1860  (T.  C.  Porter):  Michigan,  Jackson,  July  11, 
1838  {Houghton) :  Wisconsin,  Beloit,  1860  {T.  J.  Hale) :  Minnesota, 


1  A  Postlinnaean  name  of  Prelinnaean  form. 

2  Erroneously  cited  by  Beal,  as  R.  Pound,  from  the  title  page  of  a  preceding  article 
on  the  Mucoraceae. 


1910]  Pease  &  Moore, — Agropyron  caninum  and  Allies 


71 


Thompson,  Carlton  Co.,  July  6,  1891  (J.  H.  Sandberg,  no.  1407) : 
Nebraska,  Lake  region  of  Grant  Co.,  3$  miles  N.  E.  of  Whitmer, 
July  29,  1893  (P.  A.  Rydberg,  no.  1617);  Montana,  East  Gallatin 
Swamps,  July  24,  1896  (P.  A.  Rydberg,  no.  3191):  Wyoming,  Fort 
Bridger,  August  5,  1873  (T.  C.  Porter) ;  Washington,  Loomis,  June 
18, 1902  (P.  C.  Porter,  D.  Griffiths,  and  J.  S.  Cotton,  no.  340) :  Nevada, 
King’s  Canon,  Ormsby  Co.  (C.  F.  Baker,  no.  1286):  California, 
Jess  Valley  to  Blue  Lake,  northeastern  Cal.  ( D .  Griffiths  and  B. 
Hunter,  no.  444):  Athabaska,  Dunvegan,  Peace  River,  July  28,  1903 
(. J .  M.  Macoun,  Herb.  Geol.  Surv.  Can.  no.  59546) :  British  Colum¬ 
bia,  Vicinity  of  Comox,  Vancouver  Is.,  July  5,  1893  (J.  Macoun, 
Herb.  Geol.  Surv.  Can.  no.  50). 

2.  A.  caninum  (L.)  Beauv.  f.  pubescens  (Scribn.  &  Sm.)  Pease 
&  Moore,  comb.  nov.  Sheaths  and  upper  surfaces  of  the  leaves  finely 
and  closely  pubescent,  or  only  with  scattered  hairs  (often  on  sheaths 
only,  more  rarely  on  leaves  only).1  • 

Agropyron  caninum  (L.)  Beauv.  var.  pubescens  Scribn.  &  Sm.  U.  S. 
Dept.  Agr.  Div.  Agrost.  Bull.  no.  4,  29  (Feb.  6,  1897). 

Specimens  examined:  Quebec,  Falls  of  Bonaventure  River,  Aug. 
5-6,  1904  (J.  F.  Collins,  M.  L.  Fernald,  and  A.  S.  Pease)-,  Margin  of 
Bic  River,  Rimouski  Co.,  July  29,  1907  (M.  L.  Fernald  and  J.  F. 
Collins,  no.  915);  Elephantis  Landing,  Brome  Co.,  July  30,  1902 
(A.  S.  Pease,  no.  147):  New  Brunswick,  Tom’s  Is.,  Restigouche 
River,  July  30,  1896  (G.  U.  Hay) :  Maine,  Ledgy  river  bank,  Houlton, 
Aug.  12,  1909  ( M .  L.  Fernald,  no.  1364);  Kelly  Point,  Pembroke, 
July  31,  1909  (M.  L.  Fernald,  no.  1368);  City  Camp  to  Roebar’s, 
Valley  of  Wassataquoik  River,  July  17,  1900  ( M .  L.  Fernald):  New 
York,  Axton,  July  14,  1899  (IF.  IF.  Rowlee,  K.  M.  Wiegand,  and 
G.  T.  Hastings) :  Michigan,  Sulphur  Is.,  Thunder  Bay,  Lake  Huron, 
near  Alpena,  July  13,  1895  ( C .  P.  Wheeler ):  Oregon,  Stein’s  Moun¬ 
tains,  August,  1901  {J).  Griffiths  and  E.  L.  Morris,  no.  609). 

3.  A.  caninum  (L.)  Beauv.  f.  glaucum  Pease  &  Moore,  f.  nov. 
vaginis  aut  foliis  aut  utrisque  glaucis  pubescentibusque  ornata. 

Type  specimen:  Maine,  Kelly  Point,  Pembroke,  July  31,  1909 
{M.  L.  Fernald,  no.  1367). 

4.  A.  caninum  (L.)  Beauv.  var.  tenerum  (Vasey)  Pease  &  Moore, 
comb.  nov.  Spikes  generally  very  long  and  slender,  5.7-23  cm.  long 
(average  length  about  12-14  cm.),  3-12  mm.  wide,  awnleSs  or  with 
awns  up  to  6  mm.  in  length. 

Agropyrum  tenerum  Vasey,  Bot.  Gaz.  x,  258  (Apr.  1885);  Scribn. 
&  Sm.  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  Div.  Agrost.  Bull.  no.  4,  29  (Feb.  6,  1897). 

Agropyron  repens  (L.)  Beauv.  var.  tenerum  (Vasey)  Beal,  Grasses 
N.  A.  ii.  637  (1896). 

A.  N ovae-Angliae  Scribn.  in  Brainerd,  Jones,  and  Eggleston, 
Flora  Vt.  103  (1900),  name,  p.  9  (see  also  foot-note,  p.  9). 


1  In  this  case  hairs  always  scattered. 


72 


R hod ora 


[April 


Specimens  examined:  Newfoundland,  Bay  of  Islands,  July  27, 
1908  (E.  II.  Eames  and  C.  C.  Godfrey,  no.  5878) :  Quebec,  Grande 
Coupe,  Perce,  Gaspe  Co.,  August  19,  1904  (J.  F.  Collins,  M.  L. 
Fernald,  and  A.  S.  Pease)-,  Allen’s  Ravine,  Mt.  Albert,  Gaspe  Co., 
July  26  &  28,  1906  (M.  L.  Fernald  and  J.  F.  Collins) ;  Gravelly  beach, 
Carleton,  Bonaventure  Co.,  July  25,  1904  (J.  F.  Collins  and  A.  S. 
Pease),  with  sheaths  showing  a  glaucous  tendency  observable  also  in 
the  next  specimen  to  be  cited;  Beach  near  mouth  of  Matane  R.,  Aug. 
6,  1904  (P.  F.  Forbes)-,  Vicinity  of  Cap  a  l’Aigle,  August  8,  1905 
(J .  Macoun,  Herb.  Geol.  Surv.  Can.  no.  68981);  Mt.  Elephantis, 
Brome  Co.,  July  30, 1902  {A.  S.  Pease,  no.  148) :  Maine,  Caribou  Bog, 
Crystal,  August  16,  1900  {M.  L.  Fernald ):  New  Hampshire,  Diamond 
Peaks,  Dartmouth  College  Grant,  August  15,  1907  ( A .  *8.  Pease,  no. 
10501),  Mt.  Webster,  Bean’s  Grant,  Aug.  21,  1908  (A.  S.  Pease,  no. 
11722):  Vermont,  Canaan,  July  10,  1907  ( A .  S.  Pease,  no.  10088): 
New  York,  Mt.  Zoar,  Chemung  Co.,  July  20,  1897  ( T .  F.  Lucy,  no. 
11603):  Ontario,  Kingston,  July  27,  1897  (J.  Fowler ):  Michigan, 
Sand  Point,  Huron  Co.,  August  20,  1908  ( C .  K.  Dodge,  no.  22):  Wis¬ 
consin,  Milwaukee,  August  (I.  A.  Lapham ):  Minnesota,  Elmore, 
Iowa  and  Minnesota  Line,  July  21,  1897  {L.  H.  Pammel,  no.  895): 
Iowa,  Ames,  June  27,  1893  (P.  C.  Stewart,  Herb.  Ia.  Agr.  Coll,  access, 
no.  5470):  Nebraska,  Grand  Is.,  June  23,  1897  (L.  H.  Pammel,  no. 
60) :  North  Dakota,  Leeds,  July  3,  1901  ( J .  Lunell ) :  South  Dakota, 
Belle  Fourche,  1897  (D.  Griffiths,  no.  389  a):  Montana,  Indian  Creek, 
July  4, 1883  ( F .  Lams  on  Scribner),  “Typical,  J.  G.  S.  ’96’’:  Wyoming, 
East  De  Lacy’s  Creek,  Yellowstone  Park,  August  10,  1897  (P.  A. 
Rydberg  and  E.  A.  Bessey,  no.  3694);  Crazy  Woman’s  Creek,  1897 
(T.  A.  Williams,  no.  2728):  Colorado,  Crystal  Park,  2600  m.,  Au¬ 
gust  1,  1901  (P.  E.  &  E.  S.  Clements,  no.  179) ;  Gunnison,  July  18, 
1901  {C.  F.  Baker,  no.  468) ;  Fort  Garland,  1884  (G.  Vasey),  “Typical” ; 
Buena  Vista,  Chaffee  Co.,  August  17,  1896  (C.  L.  Shear,  no.  1020): 
Idaho,  Idaho  Falls,  July,  1893  (P.  Palmer,  no.  357):  Utah,  Dyer 
Mine,  Uintah  Mountains,  July  12,  1902  (X.  N.  Goodding,  no.  1343): 
California,  Grosser,  Yakima  Co.,  July  19,  1902  (J.  S.  Cotton,  no. 
744):  New  Mexico,  1847  (A.  Fendler,  no.  909):  Arizona,  St.  John’s 
to  White  Mountains,  August  6-15,  1903  ( D .  Griffiths,  no.  5201): 
Saskatchewan,  1858  (E.  Bourgeau):  Manitoba,  Emerson,  July  17, 
1887  (J.  Fowler ):  Assiniboia,  Moose  Jaw,  July  17,  1880  ( J .  Macoun ): 
British  Columbia,  Trail,  June  6,  1902  (J.  M.  Macoun,  Herb.  Geol. 
Surv.  Can.  no.  63394). 

5.  A.  caninum  (L.)  Beauv.  var.  tenerum  (Vasey)  Pease  &  Moore 
f.  ciliatum  (Scribn.  &  Sm.)  Pease  &  Moore,  comb.  nov.  Sheaths 
furnished  with  pubescence,  varying  from  a  dense  covering  of  fine  hairs 
to  more  scattered  and  longer  ones.  Leaves  glabrous  or  with  scattered 
hairs  on  the  upper  surface.1 


1  In  the  latter  case  there  may  be  no  hairs  on  the  sheaths,  a  phase  which  seems  to  be 
more  frequent  in  the  East,  while  the  other  is  more  abundant  westward. 


1910]  Pease  &  Moore, —  Agropyron  caninum  and  Allies 


73 


Agropyron  tenerum  Vasey  var.  ciliatum  Scribn.  &  Sm.  U.  S.  Dept. 
Agr.  Div.  Agrost.  Bull.  no.  4,  30  (Feb.  6,  1897). 

A.  tenerum  Vasey  subsp.  trichocoleum  Piper,  Bull.  Torr.  Bot.  Club, 
xxxii,  546  (Oct.  21,  1905). 

Specimens  examined:  Quebec,  Between  Balde  and  the  Baie  des 
Chaleurs,  Bonaventure  River,  Bonaventure  Co.,  August  5,  6,  &  8; 
1904  (J.  F.  Collins,  M.  L.  Fernald,  and  A.  S.  Pease):  Maine,  Lubec, 
Aug.  2,  1909  {M.  L.  Fernald,  no.  1366);  Gilead,  August,  1897  {K. 
Furbish ):  New  Hampshire,  Randolph,  August  16,  1902  {A.  S. 
Pease,  no.  1730),  July  28,  1907  (A.  S.  Pease,  no.  10769),  August  17, 
1907  (A.  S.  Pease,  no.  10614,  A.  H.  Moore,  no.  4050);  Three  Mile 
Island,  Meredith,  Aug.  25,  1903  (A.  S.  Pease,  no.  2515):  Vermont, 
Westmore  (Type  station  of  A.  N ovae-Angliae) ,  July  11-12,  1900 
(IF.  W.  Eggleston,  no.  2177):  Michigan,  Keweenaw  Co.,  August, 
1889  (O.  A.  Farwell,  no.  533):  North  Dakota,  Devil’s  Lake,  Ram¬ 
say  Co.,  July  1,  1905  (J.  Lunell ):  Wyoming,  Bridger  Peak,  Carbon 
Co.,  August  22,  1903  {L.  N.  Goodding,  no.  1939);  Washington,  Walla 
Walla,  June  26,  1899  (C.  L.  Shear,  no.  1573). 

6.  A.  caninum  (L.)  Beauv.  var.  tenerum  (Vasey)  Pease  &  Moore 
f.  Fernaldii  Pease  &  Moore,  f.  nov.  glauca;  foliis  basalibus  vaginis- 
que  pubescentibus.  Aliquando  folia  sparsim  pilosa  sunt. 

Type  specimen:  Quebec,  Vicinity  of  Cap  a  l’Aigle,  August  8,  1905 
(J.  Macoun,  Herb.  Geol.  Surv.  Can.  no.  68978). 

Other  specimens  examined:  Quebec,  Mt.  Ste.  Anne,  Perce,  Gaspe 
Co.,  July  24,  1905  ( J .  F .  Collins  and  M.  L.  Fernald,  no.  36) ;  Vicinity 
of  Cap  a  FAigle  (J.  Macoun,  Herb.  Geol.  Surv.  Can.  no.  68979) : 
Maine,  Kelly  Point,  Pembroke,  July  31,  1909  (il/.  L.  Fernald,  no. 
1369);  West  Quoddy  Head,  Lubec,  Aug.  2,  1909  ( M .  L.  Fernald,  no. 
1365). 

7.  A.  caninum  (L.)  Beauv.  var.  latiglume  (Scribn.  &  Sm.)  Pease 
&  Moore,  comb.  nov.  Spikes  rather  broader  in  proportion  to  the 
length  than  in  the  following,  2. 2-8. 2  cm.  long,  5-10  mm.  wide; 
glumes  flattened  out  (i.  e.,  almost  or  wholly  without  keel);  spikelets 
and  leaves  finely  pubescent. 

Agropyron  violaceum  (Hornem.)  Lange  var.  latiglume  Scribn.  & 
Sm.  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  Div.  Agrost.  Bull.  no.  4,  30  (Feb.  6,  1897). 

A.  violaceum  (Hornem.)  Lange  subsp.  latiglume  (Scribn.  &  Sm.) 
Piper,  Bull.  Torr.  Bot.  Club,  xxxii,  547  (Oct.  21,  1905). 

Specimens  examined:  Bear  Lake;  Arctic  Coast  (T.,  65):  Grinnell 
Land  (A.  IF.  Greely ,  no.  69):  Labrador,  Rama,  August  20-24,  1897 
(J.  D.  Sornborger,  no.  263):  Wyoming,  Summit  Mt.,  Bighorn  Moun¬ 
tains,  10,000  ft.,  July  24,  1900  ( J .  G.  Jack),  “typical”;  Rocky  Moun¬ 
tains  ( Douglas ,  no.  77). 

8.  A.  caninum  (L.)  Beauv.  var  Homemanni  (Koch)  Pease  & 
Moore,  comb.  nov.  Generally  plants  of  alpine  or  far  northern  regions; 
spikes  4.2-11.3  cm.  long  (average  about  7-8  cm.),  3-9  mm.  broad 
(average  about  6  mm.);  glumes  strongly  keeled;  spikelets  not  pubes- 


74 


Rhodora 


[April 


cent,  simply  minutely  ciliate  on  the  edges  of  the  glumes,1  leaves  narrow 
or  even  re  volute  2  to  flat  and  broadish. 

T.  biflorum  Authors,  not  Brign.,  e.  g.  Nym.  Consp.  Flor.  Europ. 
842  (1878-1882). 

T.  violaceum  Hornem.  Flora  Dan.  xii,  t.  2044  (1834). 

T.  biflorum  Brign.  /?.  Hornemanni  Koch,  Syn.  Flor.  Germ.  Helv. 
ed.  II,  ii,  953  (1844). 

Agropyrum  biflorum  (Brign.)  R.  &.  S.  var.  Trit.  violaceum  (Hornem.) 
Reichenb.  Ic.  Flor.  Germ.  Helv.  i,  30  (1850). 

A.  violaceum  (Hornem.)  Lange,  Consp.  Flor.  Groenl.  155  (1880); 
Vasey,  Dept.  Agr.  Spec.  Rep.  no.  63,  45  (1883);  Scribn.  &  Sm. 
U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  Div.  Agrost.  Bull.  no.  4,  30  (Feb.  6,  1897). 

A.  violaceum  (Hornem.)  Lange  /?.  virescens  Lange,  Consp.  Flor. 
Groenl.  155  (1880);  Rosenv.  Andet.  Till.  Grpnl.  Faner.  Karsp.  726 
(1890). 

A.  violaceum  (Hornem.)  Lange  a.  genuina  Rosenv.  Andet.  Till. 
Grpnl.  Faner.  Karsp.  726  (1890). 

A.  violaceum  (Hornem.)  Lange  var.  major  Vasey,  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat. 
Herb,  i,  280  (Oct.  31,  1893). 

Agropyron  brevifolium  Scribn.  U.  S.  Dept  Agr.  Div.  Agrost.  Bull, 
no.  11,  55  (July  20,  1898). 

Triticum  repens  L .  B.  T.  biflorum  (Brign.)  A.  &  G.  A.  virescens 
(Lange)  A.  &  G.  Syn.  Mitteleurop.  Flora,  ii,  1,  654  (Dec.  10,  1901). 

T.  repens  L.  B.  T.  biflorum  (Brign.)  A.  &  G.  B.  Hornemanni 
(Koch)  A.  &.  G.,  1.  c. 

Agropyrum  violaceum  (Hornem.)  Lange  f.  virescens  (Lange)  Gelert, 
in  Ostenfeld,  Flora  Arct.  133  (June  28,  1902). 

Specimens  examined:  Greenland,  Igalisso  (J.  Vahl):  Quebec, 
Gulch  north  of  Lac  au  Diable,  Mt.  Albert,  Gaspe  Co.,  July  25,  1906 
(. M .  L.  Fernald,  no.  411):  Maine,  North  Basin,  Mt.  Ktaadn,  July 
13,  1900  (E.  F.  Williams ):  New  Hampshire,  Alpine  Garden,  Sargent’s 
Purchase,  August  19,  1907  (A.  S.  Pease,  no.  10600),  August  7,  1896 
( E .  &  C.  E.  Faxon) ;  Oakes’  Gulf,  Cutts’  Grant,  August  8,  1896  (E. 
F.  Williams)'.  Wyoming,  Yellowstone  Lake,  August  22,  1899  (A.  Nel¬ 
son,  no.  6608):  Colorado,  near  Pagosa  Peak,  12000  ft.,  August,  1899 
(C.  F.  Baker,  no.  144a);  North  Fork  of  Bridge  Creek,  September,  1897 
(A.  D.  E.  Elmer,  no.  676)  — Type  of  A.  brevifolium  Scribn.):  Nevada, 
near  Virginia  City,  1863-4  (IP.  G.  Bloomer,  no.  2068)  —  Mixed  with 
variety  no.  7 :  California,  Silver  Mt.  Trail,  8000-9000  ft.,  1864  (W. 
H.  Brewer,  no.  2068):  Alberta,  Devil’s  Head  Lake,  Banff,  July  29, 
1901  (J.  Macoun):  British  Columbia,  Chilliwack  Valley,  August  29, 
1901  (J.  M.  Macoun,  Herb.  Geol.  Surv.  Can.  no.  26026). 

9.  A.  caninum  (L.)  Beauv.  var.  Hornemanni  (Koch)  Pease  & 

1  In  the  White  Mountains  spikes  generally  green  and  thick.  N.  B.  the  ciliation  referred 
to  is  characteristic  of  the  entire  group. 

2  Very  narrow  or  revolute  leaves  are  not  common  in  the  group. 


1910]  Pease  &  Moore, —  Agropyron  caninum  and  Allies 


75 


Moore  f.  pilosifolium  Pease  &  Moore,  f.  nov.  foliis  supra  sparsim 
pilosis.1 

Type  specimen:  Maine,  Dead  River,  Somerset  Co.,  August  19, 
1896  {M.  L.  Fernald,  no.  576). 

10.  A.  caninum  (L.)  Beauv.  var.  andinum  (Scribn.  &  Sm.)  Pease 
&  Moore,  comb.  nov.  Length  of  the  spikes  (without  the  terminal 
awns)  4. 3-9. 5  cm.  (mostly  5-7  cm.);  width  (exclusive  of  the  awns) 
5-8  mm.;  awns  9-20  mm.  long,  slightly  spreading,  not  strongly  re¬ 
curved  as  in  the  following. 

Agropyron  violaceum  (Hornem.)  Lange  var.  andinum  Scribn.  & 
Sm.  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  Div.  Agrost.  Bull.  no.  4,  30  (Feb.  6,  1897). 

A.  biflorum  (Brign.)  R.  &  S.  subsp.  andinum  (Scribn.  &  Sm.). 
Piper,  Bull.  Torr.  Bot.  Club,  xxxii,  547  (Oct.  21,  1905). 

A.  andinum  (Scribn.  &  Sm.)  Rydb.  Flora  Colo.  54  (1906). 

Specimens  examined:  Montana,  Cedar  Mt.,  July  16,  1897  (P.  A. 
Rydberg  and  E.  A.  Bessey,  no.  3705):  Wyoming,  Dunraven  Peak, 
August  27,  1899  (A.  &  E.  Nelson,  no.  6726);  Telephone  Mines, 
Albany  Co.,  August  1,  1900  (A.  Nelson,  no.  7894):  Colorado, 
Silver  Plume,  August  24,  1895  (C.  L.  Shear,  no.  393);  Mt.  Kelso, 
near  Torrey’s  Peak,  13000  ft.,  1885  ( G .  W.  Letterman). 

11.  A.  caninum  (L.)  Beauv.  var.  Gmelini  (Ledeb.)  Pease  &  Moore, 
comb.  nov.  Size  of  spikes  as  in  the  preceding;  awns  tending  to  be 
longer,  1.2-3. 3  cm.  long,  bent  outward  almost  at  right  angles,  or,  at 
least,  strongly  recurved. 

Triticum  caninum  L.  var.  Gmelini  Ledeb.  Flora  Alt.  i,  118  (1829); 
Ic.  PL  nov.  imperf.  cogn.  Flor.  Ross,  iii,  16,  t.  248  (1831),  Griseb. 
according  to  Scribn.  &  Sm.  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  Div.  Agrost.  Bull.  no.  4, 
31  (Feb.  6,  1897),  not  Triticum  Gmelini  Trin.  ex  Schrad.  in  Linnaea, 
xii,  467  (1838),  “ radix  repens. ” 

Agropyrum  caninum  (L.)  Beauv.  var.  Gmelini  Ledeb.,  according 
to  Vasey,  Bull.  Torr.  Bot.  Club,  x,  128  (Dec.  1883),  publ.  without 
reference  to  a  previously  described  plant  and  hence  invalid. 

Agropyron  Gmelini  (Ledeb.)  Scribn.  &  Sm.  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  Div. 
Agrost.  Bull.  no.  4,  30  (Feb.  6,  1897). 

Specimens  examined:  Wyoming,  Meeteetse  Creek,  1897  {T.  A. 
Williams,  no.  2911);  Telephone  Mines,  Albany  Co.,  August  1,  1900 
(A.  Nelson,  no.  7892):  Colorado,  Silver  Plume,  August  24,  1895 
(P.  A.  Rydberg,  no.  2453):  Buena  Vista,  Chaffee  Co.,  August  14-20, 
1896  (0.  L.  Shear,  no.  1013):  Idaho,  Mt.  Chauvet,  July  29,  1879 
(P.  A.  Rydberg  and  E.  A.  Bessey,  no.  3712):  California,  Carson 
Pass  ( W .  H.  Brewer,  Cal.  State  Surv.  no.  2118). 

12.2  A.  caninum  (L.)  Beauv.  var.  Gmelini  (Ledeb.)  Pease  & 


1  Besides  this  difference  from  the  common  White  Mountain  plant,  the  sterile  shoots  are 
more  abundant,  a  character  which  is  not  likely  to  prove  important  . 

2  Nos.  7-12,  incl.  do  not  average  as  tall  as  nos.  1-6  inch,  seldom  having  to  be  bent  to 
get  them  on  to  a  sheet.-  Nos.  13  and  14  are  of  like  stature  with  nos.  1-6. 


76 


Rhodora 


[April 


Moore  f.  Pringlei  (Scribn.  &  Sm.)  Pease  &  Moore,  comb.  nov. 
Leaves  (rarely  the  sheaths  also)  finely  and  densely  pubescent,  or  with 
scattered  hairs  on  one  or  both  sides. 

Agropyron  Gmelini  (Ledeb.)  Scribn.  &  Sm.  var.  Pringlei  Scribn. 
&  Sm.  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  Div.  Agrost.  Bull.  no.  4,  31  (Feb.  6,  1897). 

A.  Scribneri  Vasey,  Bull.  Torr.  Bot.  Club,  x,  128  (Dec.  1883); 
Scribn.  &  Sm.  1.  c. 

Specimens  examined:  Montana,  Little  Belt  Mountains,  August 
12,  1883  ( F .  Lamson  Scribner ,  no.  427),  “A.  Scribneri,  Type”:  Wyo¬ 
ming,  Medicine  Bow  Mountains,  Albany  Co.,  August  31,  1903  ( L .  N . 
Goodding,  no.  2043):  Colorado,  Gray’s  Peak  and  vicinity,  11-14000 
ft.,  August,  1885  ( H .  N.  Patterson,  no.  162);  near  Pagosa  Peak,  12000 
ft.,  August,  1899  (C.  F.  Baker,  no.  141):  California,  Summit  Valley, 
Sierra  Nevada  Mountains,  September  23,  1882  (O.  G.  Pringle )  — Type 
of  A.  caninum.  var.  Pringlei. 

13.  A.  caninum  (L.)  Beauv.  var.  unilaterale  (Cassidy)  Vasey. 
Size  of  spikes  as  in  the  type,  except  that  the  awns  usually  give  them  the 
appearance  of  being  wider  (6-8  mm.);  awns  ascending  or  appressed 
(generally  unequally  so,  giving  the  spikes  a  unilateral  appearance), 
from  2-5  cm.  long  (average  3-4  cm.). —  Contr.  U.  S.  Nat.  Herb.  i. 
279  (Oct.  31,  1893). 

Agropyrum  unilaterale  Cassidy,  Colo.  State  Agr.  Coll.  Exper. 
Sta.  Bull.  no.  12,  63  (July,  1890);  Scribn.  &  Sm.  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr. 
Div.  Agrost.  Bull.  no.  4,  29  (Feb.  6,  1897). 

Agropyron  caninum  (L.)  Beauv.  f.  violacescens  Ramaley,  Geol. 
Nat.  Hist.  Surv.  Minn. —  Minn.  Bot.  Studies,  Bull.  no.  9,  3,  107  (June 
9,  1894). 

A.  violacescens  (Ramaley  *)  Beal,  Grasses  N.  A.  ii,  635  (1896). 

A.  violascens  Scribn.  &  Sm.  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  Div.  Agrost.  Bull, 
no.  4,  29  (Feb.  6,  1897). 

A.  Richardsoni  (Trin.)  Schrad.  according  to  Scribn.  &  Sm.  1.  c., 
probably  not  A.  Richardsoni  Hort.  Berol.,  Ind.  Sem.  Hort.  Bot.  Berol. 
1831  Collect.  (1832),  nomen  nudum. 

Triticum  Richardsoni  Scribn.  &  Sm.  1.  c.,  not  T.  Richardsoni 
Schrad.,  Linnaea,  xii,  467  (1838),  Trin.  according  to  Scribn.  &  Sm.  1.  c. 

Specimens  examined:  District  of  Columbia,  Plot  151,  Potomac 
Flats,  June  19,  1902  ( Pollock  and  Ball )  —  Mixed  with  no.  4:  Colorado, 
Dillon  (O.  L.  Shear,  no.  1067);  Twin  Lakes,  1873  (J.  Wolfe,  no.  1168): 
Oregon,  (“Dr.  Gardner ”):  Alberta,  Devil’s  Head  Lake,  Banff, 
August  3,  1891  (J.  Macoun ),  with  comparatively  short  awns:  Assini- 
boia,  Eagle  Hills,  July  25,  1879  (J.  Macoun)',  Cypress  Hills,  August 
2,  1880  (J.  Macoun). 

14.  A.  caninum  (L.)  Beauv.  var.  unilaterale  (Cassidy)  Vasey  f. 
ciliatum  (Scribn.  &  Sm.)  Pease  &  Moore,  comb.  nov.  Sheaths  varying 

1  Erroneously  cited  by  Beal  as  R.  Pound  from  the  title-page  of  an  earlier  article  on  the 
Mucoraceae. 


April] 


R hod ora 


77 


from  pubescent  to  sparsely  pilose;  leaves  sometimes  glabrous,  some¬ 
times  with  scattered  hairs. 

Agropyron  Richardsoni  (Trin.)  Schracl.  var.  ciliatum  Scribn.  & 
Sm.  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  Div.  Agrost.  Bull.  no.  4,  29  (Feb.  6,  1897). 

Specimens  examined:  New  York?,  Ex  Coll.  G.  W.  Clinton,  “Buf¬ 
falo,  N.  Y.”  1:  Ontario,  Near  Shannon ville,  Hastings  Co.,  June  2, 
1865  (J.  Macoun,  no.  3):  Iowa,  Jewell  Junction,  July,  1895  (G.  W. 
Carver,  no.  255):  Montana,  Hound  Creek  Valley,  August  1,  1883 
(F.  Lamson  Scribner,  no.  422);  Dry  Fork  of  Belt  Creek,  August  14, 
1896  (P.  A.  Rydberg,  no.  3352):  North  Dakota,  Leeds,  July  8,  1901 
(J.  Lunell ):  British  Columbia,  Field,  August  19,  1904  (J.  Macoun, 
Herb.  Geol.  Surv.  Can.  no.  64790). 


A- 

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7 


AGROPYRON  CANINUM  AND  ITS  NORTH  AMERICAN 

ALLIES. 

RhOdora,  XII,  61-77  ( April  18,  1910) — Corrections. 

Page  66,  1.2-3.  Transfer  the  words,  “by  the  Vienna  Rules,” 
to  1.4,  substituting  them  for  the  words,  “for  us.” 

Page  67,  foot-note  4.  After  “Collect”  insert  a  period. 

Page  71,  1.16.  Place  reference  number  to  foot-note  1  within 
parentheses. 

A 

Page  77  (bottom).  In  the  reprints  of  the  above  mentioned 
article,  but  not  in  the  original,  the  following  foot-note  1 
was  omitted. 


1  It  is  uncertain  whether,  “Buffalo,  N.  Y.,”  is  only  the  collector’s  address  or  also 
the  place  of  collection. 

Arthur  Stanley  Pease, 

Urbana,  III. 

r  Albert  Hanford  Moore, 

Washington,  D.  C. 


November  16,  1910. 


* 

V 


[Reprinted,  without  change  in  paging,  from  Rhodora,  Journal  of  the  New 
England  Botanical  Club,  vol.  12  (1910). — A  monthly  magazine,  devoted  to  the 
flora  of  the  northeastern  United  States.  Published,  in  Boston  (1052  Exchange 
Building)  and  Providence  (Preston  and  Rounds  Co.).  Price  $1.00  per  year;  to 
foreign  countries,  $1.25.] 


Notes  on  Agropyron. —  Through  the  courtesy  of  Mrs.  Agnes 
Chase,  I  was  enabled  to  examine  the  type  specimen  of  Agropyron 
tenerum  Vasey  var.  longifolium  Scribn.  &  Sm.  U.  S.  Dept.  Agr.  Div. 
Agrost.  Bull.  no.  4,  30  (Feb.  6,  1897)  at  the  United  States  grass 
herbarium  and  I  am  convinced  that  it  is  not  separable  from  A.  tenerum 
Vasey,  to  the  synonymy  of  which  I  would  therefore  add  it. 

By  an  oversight  of  mine,  it  was  stated  in  the  recent  article  which  I 
published  in  conjunction  with  Prof.  A.  S.  Pease,  Rhodora,  xii,  61-77 
(April  18,  1910),  that  Vasey  cites  no  specimens  under  his  original 
description  of  A.  Scrib?ieri,  Bull.  Torr.  Bot.  Club,  x,  128  (Dec.  1883). 
This  is  incorrect.  Vasey  cites  two,  but  does  not  state  which  is  the 
type  specimen.  The  first  is  fully  cited  —  “  It  was  collected  by  Mr. 
C.  G.  Pringle  in  the  Sierras  in  1882,  altitude  9,500  ft.,  and  distributed 
as  Triticum  caninum  L.?,”  as  if  it  were  the  type  specimen;  while  the 
second  is  merely  referred  to  as  follows:  “It  was  collected  the  past 


206 


Rhodora 


[October 


season  in  Montana  by  Mr.  F.  L.  Scribner,  to  whom  I  take  pleasure 
in  dedicating  it.”  It  has  been  suggested  to  me  that,  owing  to  the  fact 
that  the  plant  is  named  for  Mr.  Scribner,  the  latter  reference  should 
be  considered  as  determining  the  type,  despite  the  fact  that  it  occu¬ 
pies  a  secondary  position  and  is  apparently  more  casual  in  expression. 
However  this  may  be,  both  specimens,  to  my  mind,  confirm  the  opinion 
advanced  by  Prof.  Pease  and  myself  in  the  above  mentioned  article, 
that  A.  Scribneri  is  not  clearly  separable  from  A.  caninum  (L.)  Beauv. 
var.  Gmelini  (Ledeb.)  Pease  &  Moore  f.  Pringlei  (Scribn.  &  Sm.) 
Pease  &  Moore,  1.  c.  {A.  Gmelini  (Ledeb.)  Scribn.  &  Sm.  var.  Pringlei 
Scribn.  &  Sm.). —  Albert  Hanford  Moore,  Washington,  D.  C. 


